tintable boat paint

hadaveha

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Mar 17, 2009
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I have allways used rustoleum to pain my aluminum boats, but this time I am not planning on painting everything, so I need a paint that is as good as rustoleum that I can have tinted any ideas.
 

Woodonglass

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I don't think I understand your question??? Why can't you still use Rustoleum Paint?
 

hadaveha

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Mar 17, 2009
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I need to have a paint tinted to match what's there, rustoleum only comes in standard colors
 

Woodonglass

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You can tint Rustoleum to any color you want. I did for my boat and so have others here on the forum. Very easy to do. Most Lowe's will do it for you if you work with them OR you can do it your self. What color are you wanting? Any Oil Based Acrylic enamel paint can be used with the hardener to paint an aluminum boat however. It does not have to be Rustoleum. You can start with any base color and then add other colors to the base to get the other colors you are looking for. You can google "How to mix oil based paint to get "X" color" and you'll get plenty of answers on the correct combinations to use to get the results you want. It's then just a matter of trial and error to match the existing color. Not all that hard to do. Heck...If this old dumb Okie can do it, I'm pretty sure anybody can!!!!:eek::sad:
 

gm280

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I personally have never mixed paints to get to a color option I wanted, but have painted with a lot of mixed paints...if that makes any sense. I have never asked any box type home improvement store to mix a pre-factory canned paint, but I don't see why they couldn't. :noidea:
 

hadaveha

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Mar 17, 2009
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well I tried, I was looking for something in between off white and tan, I ended up with something that looked like watererd down pepto. I don't even know where the pink came from.
 

Woodonglass

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Exactly ^^^??? AND, of course you are trying to mix one of the most difficult shades to accomplish!!!!:facepalm:
If you want it more on the Brownish/Tan side of the spectrum then start with White as your base color and yellow and brown.
 

hadaveha

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I was mixing rustoleum dune tan, and interlux white and got pepto pink my daughter wanted me to paint the entire bout with it
 

Woodonglass

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First off It's never a good idea to use two different brands of paint. Tan and White with out a bit of yellow might tend to go towards the Pink side of the spectrum. If you get some yellow Rustoleum and some white rustoleum and start again I'm pretty sure you'll get the results you're looking for.
 

MTboatguy

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Jul 8, 2010
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Never mix brands, you will never be satisfied with what you get because the base pigments as well as drying agents are different in the different brands, they all have their own proprietary mixes, so you need to stay within the same brand to get the best results. Now take into account, it may be difficult to attain an exact match, the areas that you are not painting have been subject to environmental factors over the years and the new paint, might look like it when you mix it, but paint does not always dry exactly the color it is when wet, so there normally will be a small amount of difference when it is all said and done.

Last of all, good luck, mixing paints that are used on cars, trucks and boats can be some of the most difficult paints to mix properly in my experience. There is actually a lot that goes into paint to get the subtle hues, tones and colors that they do.
 

Woodonglass

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I agree with MTBG, when I say it's easy to do I mean that all that's required its getting the right colors to get the shade needed and then the patience to do the mixing. It CAN take some time to get the mix ratio figured out, and he IS 100% correct about the subtle changes in color when the paint dries. Also 100% correct about the effect the sun has on it after a few years of exposure. All of these factors come into play but you should be able to get real close if you take the time and have the patience.;):D At least it's not Gelcoat. From what little I know and from what I hear from the pro's it's almost an Art Form to be able to color match with it!!!!:eek:
 
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lckstckn2smknbrls

Lieutenant Junior Grade
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Sep 18, 2008
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1,114
Rustoleum does come as a tintable base. They have a guide of over 100 custom colors.
Do you have a Menards near by?
 

hadaveha

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Mar 17, 2009
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I orderd rustoleum almond come to find out it's a near perfect match why didn't one of you fellows step in before I hurt myselfšŸ˜ 
 

TruckDrivingFool

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Jul 30, 2007
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Hey Dave was looking at Rustoleum's color catalog and you might wanna try almooo..........

oh nevermind, lol

Glad ya got it worked out. :)
 
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